Just some updates

Hey everyone. Thought I'd play catch-up here a moment.

Weight-loss: I'm holding steady. I'm really looking forward to January when I'll start my "sweet free" challenge. I think it will help me tremendously. If any of you would like to join I'd be glad to have the company. This isn't about giving up sugar, since I've already done that, it's about giving up the taste of sweet as a whole. No artificial or natural sweet stuff. I think my biggest battle will be giving up my Diet Rite. I will admit I'm totally addicted.

Giveaway coming soon! The 2nd annual Great Start Giveaway is being planned. Don't miss this giveaway where we'll have some awesome prizes just for you! Keep watching the blog for more details soon.

I'm sad. We received the news last night that my grandfather passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer. It hurts. A lot. But he's no longer suffering as he was, and that's something to be thankful for. Keep us in your prayers please. This weekend will be a hard one as we say our goodbyes, and there will be lots of traveling involved for my whole family.

Photography: If you are a fan of photography, you'll love flickr. I have an account there myself where I share a lot of my work. To keep my creativity flowing I've joined a group called Project 365. In this group we post one photo a day for a year. It can be any photo of anything, but it has to be taken on that day. Today is day 6 for me and I'm already seeing possibilities and potential shots I'd missed before. It's fun! Feel free to check out my photostream sometime.

Examiner: I'm going to try to get another article or two up today, but I can't promise anything. I have a lot to do to get ready for the funeral, so my day will mostly be filled with that.

Have a great weekend everyone!

OOPS! I forgot one!

I just realized I somehow left out one of the prizes! I've added it to the post below, but I want to mention it here as well to be sure the winner doesn't miss it.

Congrats Joan S. of WI! You won the Cal-Carb Clicker!

Sorry for the omission!

Enjoy!

Healthy Low-Carb Living Great Start Giveaway Winners

On Jan. 4th we announced that we have were having a giveaway to celebrate the new year and help you succeed with your low-carb goals in 2008. All you had to do was look at the photos posted and send in your guesses along with your name and address. Even if all your guesses were wrong, you were entered into the drawing. The point was to have fun, make you think a bit, and give away some fantastic prizes. I think it's safe to say Mission Accomplished!

The response was overwhelming and many of you mentioned how much fun you had in the process. I can only hope it's been as half as fun for you as it has been for me! I've enjoyed this so much and I'm sad to see it ending. But I'm looking forward to our next giveaway which we'll be announcing within the next several weeks. :0)

Thanks to the generosity of so many wonderful people who strive to help the low-carb community, 10 of you will soon own some of the best low-carb products and books available! We had 124 entries and I wish we could have given each one of you a prize.

A basket containing all the entries we received!

I'm sure you are ready to get on with announcing the winners, but first we need to solve the mystery pictures! These turned out to be tougher than I'd thought they'd be. But you all had such great guesses! And I honestly never thought about how similar some items look up close!

No one got them all right, but some came pretty close! We had 5 people who guessed 6 out of 8 correct and I want to recognize them here for their great eye for details!

Honorable Mentions

Jenny T. from TX
Yvonne E. from IN
Joanne L. from OH
Jennifer R. from PA
Lynn D. from SD

Ready to see the answers now? Here ya go:




Strawberry Sugar-Free Jello




An Almond




Flax Seed




Pepperoni




Broccoli



Inside Of A Red Bell Pepper




Splenda




String Cheese

I appreciate everyone who gave these an effort. You all did very well!

My children had the honor of choosing the winning entries from the basket, so you winners have them to thank for drawing out your names! :0)

My children drawing the winning names!

Now to announce our prize winners....

Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution Winner:
Gayle M. from IL

Protein Power Lifeplan Winner:
Tanya W. from NY

Carb Wars, Sugar Is The New Fat Winner:
Debbie B. from AL

500 Low-Carb Recipes Winner:
John M. from NY

ChocoPerfection Variety Pack Winners:
Carol M. from AZ
Mairi B. from NC
Dan S. from KS

Cal-Carb Clicker Winner:
Joan S. from WI

Fiberfit Winner:
Patti D. from IL

$50 CarbSmart Gift Certificate Winner:
Alison D. from NJ

Congrats to all the winners! I will be contacting you soon about your prizes, so watch your email!

I just want to say thanks again to all the generous people who donated prizes! And to each of you who read my blog I owe a huge debt of gratitude. I hope I have touched your lives in just a measure of the way you have touched mine. I promise that in the years to come I'll do my best to bring you informative, encouraging, and inspiring posts that will help continue Healthy Low-Carb Living!

Two Prizes and One Day Left

Tomorrow is the big day for the Great Start Giveaway drawing! Are you getting excited yet? I know I am! I can't wait to see who will win one of the many great prizes we are offering. But I still have two more prizes to tell you about, so here we go....




CarbSmart was started by Andrew DiMino after losing 50 lbs on the Atkins Diet in 1999. Through his efforts thousands of people have lost weight, keep the weight off and lessen the effects of diabetes. CarbSmart is dedicated to helping everyone who is currently following, or considering, the low carbohydrate lifestyle. Whether you want to lose weight or maintain your current weight, CarbSmart is your one-stop shopping source for low-carb products. They carry everything from books and vitamins to hard to find products like sugar-free chocolate chips! No matter what type of low-carb plan you follow, CarbSmart is there for you. And now one lucky reader will soon have a $50 gift certificate to this fantastic online store courtesy of Andrew DiMino and CarbSmart!



We are also proud to be offering the fantastic book Protein Power Lifeplan by Drs. Mike and Mary Dan Eades. Here's an excerpt from the jacket cover:

THE PROTEIN POWER LIFEPLAN offers:

A Three-Tiered Nutrition Plan designed for your level of commitment: the Hedonist, the Dilettante, or the Purist

The latest findings on Insulin Resistance: what it is, how to correct it, and why, once it is corrected, you will lose weight and avoid health problems associated with it

Important information on supplements: vitamin E, alpha-lipoic acid, vitamin C, magnesium, chromium, and coenzyme Q10

Tips for obtaining the optimum health benefits of natural sunlight

A look at the dangers of excess iron storage and how to determine if it is a problem for you

A primer on fat: learn which good-quality fats can reduce elevated cholesterol, lower triglycerides, and reduce the risk of heart disease - withoutt medication

Meal plans, recipes, kitchen stocking advice, and more.

This informative and encouraging book is a must in any low-carbers library! And Thanks to Drs. Mike and Mary Dan Eades, one of you will have your very own copy! And be sure to check out Dr. Mike Eades and Dr. MD Eades blogs as well! Both are chock full of information, recipes and research to help you along!

Both of these great prizes are up for grabs in our Great Start Giveaway. But today is your last day to enter! We need your submission by midnight tonight if you want to be entered in the drawing. Be sure to check back tomorrow when we list the winners of all the awesome prizes, as well as the answers to those tricky photos you have been wondering about all month! :0)

Good Luck to all of you!

Win A Bottle Of Fiberfit !

This month we are having our Great Start Giveaway to celebrate the new year. And the response has been fantastic! Many have sent in their entries, along with a nice comment or two saying how much fun they are having trying to guess the photos. I'm so glad you are all having a good time! I know I'm loving every minute of it and can't wait for the next one! (Yes.. you read that right. There is already another giveaway in the works, so be sure you come back often so you don't miss out!)

One of the fabulous prizes we are giving away is a liquid sweetened soluble fiber called Fiberfit. It's ideal for low-carb dieters and diabetics. Fiberfit has a minimal effect on blood sugar and insulin levels and one teaspoon provides one full gram of fiber in liquid form. A single teaspoon has just 4 calories - approximately 1 gram of carbohydrates - from complex carbohydrate sources (the fiber itself). If you subscribe to the "net carbs" way of counting then this sweetener is a dream come true! And even if you do prefer to count all the fiber, you still get a great "carb bargain" with Fiberfit!

You can use Fiberfit in anything you want to sweeten up! It's great in things like baked goods, desserts, beverages, sauces, dressings, etc. Just think of it! You'll no longer having to worry about the carbs in Splenda while fixing your favorite low-carb dessert! And you'll be increasing your daily fiber intake by substituting Fiberfit in your drinks such as coffee and tea, as well as other foods. It's easy to convert your own recipes to use Fiberfit in place of other sweeteners. You can use 1 to 2 Tbsp. of Fiberfit in place of each cup of your ordinary sweetener and then adjust if from there. A little goes a long way!

Not convinced yet? Just look at some of these reviews from Netrition!

I absolutely cannot live without Fiberfit. It is my ONLY sweetener. :)

So easy to cook and bake with this sweetener. And with the fiber, no carbs to add to the recipes.

This is my favorite sweetener. I use it in most all of my cooking. If you haven't tried it you really should give it a try.

What more could you ask for? Concentrated sweetness - no funny after taste - no GI probs and healthy fiber all in one product! A quad-wammy! Considered "Liquid Slenda" for recipes so get yourself some and get cookin', baby! A little goes a long way so it's a great value. Will buy again. :)

This product is WONDERFUL!! Has no aftertaste and you don't have to use much to get the sweetness desired! I LOVE IT!!!

OMG, I am out of Fiberfit. This is tragic! I hate it when I forget to place an order. I don't like or use Splenda granulated anymore. It doesn't taste sweet and so much of it has to be used to gain the desired sweetness. I have been spoiled rotten since I started using Fiberfit. I can use a couple of squirts in a 12 oz. cup of strong coffee. It's sweet enough and I'm good to go... Great product! By the way, I use the powdered Fiberfit when I bake. I only use the liquid in drinks, sauces, and cereal.

I use the liquid and powder versions of this product. Very good and easy to use.

And there many more where those came from!

Thanks to the generosity of Karen Rysavy at Truly Low Carb, one lucky reader will soon own a 4 oz. bottle of this amazing sweetener, as well as an 8 page color recipe guide! But don't worry if you don't win. You can purchase Fiberfit anytime at Truly Low Carb, CarbSmart, Netrition, and Amazon.


But you can't win if you don't enter, so be sure you've submitted your entry by tomorrow, Jan. 24th!

ChocoPerfection - The Name Says It All!

I'm a huge chocolate fan. I'm also very picky. When starting my low-carb lifestyle almost 7 years ago, I thought I'd have to give up my chocolate for good. You can only imagine my excitement when I learned there were sugar-free chocolates on the market that a low-carber like myself could enjoy without any guilt. These candies were made with a product called maltitol. I'd never heard of it before, but according to my LC mentors I didn't have to count it because it did not spike blood sugar levels.

I remember reading the labels and thinking "Wow, 26 carbs with 24 sugar alcohols - so only 2 net carbs. Not bad for chocolate!" While it tasted O.K. (better than nothing I figured) it sure wasn't what I had been anticipating. Then came the thunderstorm that raged in my gut. What discomfort! I learned the side effects of sugar alcohols were less than pleasant and I later found they didn't really help me with my weight loss.

I spent several years trying various candies hoping for the right taste but without the horrid stomach issues and stalling effects. I never found what I was looking for until almost 2 years ago. I had just entered Jimmy Moore's 1 year blog anniversary giveaway and won a 12 pack box of ChocoPerfection.

ChocoPerfection is aptly named! It is the perfect chocolate bar for low-carbers or anyone who is watching their sugar intake. The best part, besides the rich decadent taste, is the lack of maltitol, which has recently been proven to be high on the glycemic index. Sweetened with oligofructose and erithrytol (a non-gastric-distress sugar alcohol), ChocoPerfection has a luxurious creamy texture that it's competitors have yet to prefect. And oligofructose has benefits! According to a flyer I got about Chocoperfection, oligofructose has scientists proclaiming it as "part of a new breed of 'functional foods' that have a variety of properties to improve your health, including curing the body of infections and supporting weight loss." Want to hear more? They also tell us that oligofructose is derived from the chicory plant and is classified as a "prebiotic fiber" which means it will "take root in your digestive tract and support the growth of beneficial probiotic microflora."

Would you believe Mary Jo Kringas, creator of ChocoPerfection, lost over 100 lbs while eating three or four of these a day! Amazing! Who would have thought you could enjoy sinfully delicious chocolate, improve your digestive tract and lose weight?

Oh, and let me take a moment to speak on the subject of customer service. In an age when true customer care seems to be dead, Mary Jo is a breath of fresh air! After winning my box of ChocoPerfection from Jimmy Moore's giveaway, there was a slight mix-up with my address. My prize did not arrive in a timely fashion. Mary Jo quickly apologized for the confusion and sent me 2 boxes of ChocoPerfection to make up for the mistake. I didn't have to ask for a thing. She saw the mistake and made sure the customer was satisfied. I was floored by this kind of attitude. Rest assured if you do business with Mary Jo and Low-Carb Specialties, you will get outstanding service as well as the most delicious low-carb chocolate you've ever tried.


ChocoPerfection is by far the best tasting sugar-free chocolate available. With three flavors to choose from, you are bound to find a favorite! You can purchase these in Dark or Milk Chocolate directly from Low Carb Specialties, or you can purchase all three flavors, including the new Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Raspberry Dark Chocolate bar from retailers such as CarbSmart, Netrition, and the dark raspberry bar from Amazon.com.

Thanks to Mary Jo, three of my lucky readers will have a chance to win an assortment of these fantastic bars this week! If you haven't already entered the giveaway for a chance at one of these delicious prizes, do so today! Time is running out! We must have all entries by Midnight on Jan. 24th.

500 Low-Carb Recipes

When people think of low-carb cookbooks, the first name that probably comes to mind is Dana Carpender. Over the years Dana has given us a great collection of cookbooks to cover just about every cooking style and preference. From smoothies to barbecue to slow cookers, Dana has covered it all!

When I first started low-carbing back in 2001, I knew very little about cooking anything other than low-fat meals. I had a lot to learn! I quickly picked up the basics and spent lots of time searching the Internet for recipes. In 2002 a good friend of mine bought a copy of Dana's 500 Low-Carb Recipes for me as a gift. (Thanks Brenda!) It is one of the most used cookbooks I own! I enjoy this particular cookbook so much that I bought several and gave them out to family and friends. And now I'm giving one of you a copy as well!

The first several pages of this cookbook are dedicated to helping low-carbers understand the use of various ingredients, as well as how the carb counts are calculated in each recipe. Dana also give us helpful tips for enjoying and succeeding in our low-carb lifestyles. And then there are the recipes!


Just a few of my favorites from 500 Low-Carb recipes include:

Heroin Wings (The name suits.. they are addicting!)

Taco Omelet

Country Scramble

Turnips Au Gratin

Spaghetti Squash Alfredo

Shrimp Scampi

Skillet Stroganoff

Mexican Meatballs

Mom's Chocolate Chip Cookies

Kathy's Peanut Butter Protein Bars

Cocoa

Not to mention all the sauces, dressings and even condiments she teaches us how to prepare in this amazing cookbook!

If you are looking for great low-carb recipes that will satisfy the whole family, then look no further! This is the cookbook for you. And you have a chance to win a copy for free right here in our Great Start Giveaway. But time is running out. You only have until Jan. 24th to enter.

More About The Prizes You Might Win....

Today I want to look at a couple more prizes you could win in our Healthy Low-Carb Living Blog's Great Start Giveaway this month.

When someone mentions low-carb, usually the first plan to come to mind is the Atkins diet. While there are other great low-carb plans available, most of the bad press has been aimed at Dr. Atkins. Thankfully the word is starting to get out about the wonderful healthy benefits of low-carb living. While the "craze" may be gone, and good riddance I might add, the staying power of low-carb plans are proving themselves. People from all over are enjoying satisfying meals while improving their health and losing weight! Dr. Atkins diet was the plan that changed my life forever. This is why I'm so happy to be giving away a copy of Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution to one of you lucky winners.


You may not know this, but Dr. Atkins used to struggle with his weight. It was in an attempt to lose weight himself that he stumbled upon what is now one of the most amazing diet plans I've ever seen.I can't say it any better than the back cover does, so here ya go:

With more than six years on the New York Times bestseller list, Dr. Atkins' nutritional approach has taken America by storm. Now, Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution offers not just weight loss, but also total wellness.
With results starting to show in just fourteen days, find out how you can:

Re-energize yourself.

Reach you ideal weight... and stay there!

Eat the delicious meals you love.

Never count calories.

Reduce the risk factors associated with major health problems, including chronic fatigue, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution also provides tips on how to jump-start the program, delicious recipes, case studies, new information on how to do Atkins, and studies that support the safety and efficacy of the Atkins Nutritional Approach.

(Amy's note: I LOVE this last line!!)

Everyone knows someone who has lost weight with Atkins. Now you can be that someone!

Of course if you are already utilizing a low-carb plan, you'll need a way to keep track of those carbs. Which is why we are excited to be including the Cal-Carb Clicker in this giveaway!

This handy little item helps you easily keep track of calories, carbs, and water intake. Don't track calories? You can easily use that part of the clicker to track something else. It's super easy to set up and use. I have mine hanging from my key chain and I'm always reaching in my purse and clicking away. If you are tired of lugging around a food journal this is the ideal product for you! To learn more about this great little weight loss tool, you can visit their website at www.calcarbclicker.com

If you haven't joined in the fun, be sure to have your entries submitted by Jan. 24th!

A Look At Carb Wars, Sugar Is The New Fat by Judy Barnes Baker

Today I'm excited to tell you about one of the wonderful prizes I am giving away here in the Healthy Low-Carb Living Blog Great Start Giveaway - Carb Wars, Sugar Is The New Fat!



In Carb Wars, Judy Barnes Baker certainly gives us a glimpse of what true luxurious eating can be like with the low-carb lifestyle. While flipping through my copy I found so many recipes I wanted to try that I couldn't decide where to start! As a huge fan of Mexican food I was pleasantly surprised to find a recipe for something as indulgent as tamales. Tamales? On a low-carb diet? You bet! As a matter of fact, I made them for dinner tonight and they were fabulous! I almost felt guilty enjoying this old favorite of mine, until I reminded myself that this version is good for me!

And this book isn't all recipes. Judy took the time to share some eye opening history about today's dietary recommendations, as well as information for getting started on a low-carb plan and explanations about specialty items commonly used in low-carb cooking.

There is a great assortment of tantalizing recipes in this book. And I have a surprise for you! You won't have to wait until you buy a copy, or win it in the giveaway, to try one! Judy has graciously given me permission to share with you one of my favorite recipes from Carb Wars. This chili recipe is perfect for a cold winters night. What's even better is that it's simple and quick! THAT'S my kind of recipe! :0) I'm serious, I threw this together in a matter of minutes and it was so good that my husband raved about it all night.

This was our dinner last night. Is your mouth watering yet?

You're probably wondering what those chip looking things are beside my bowl. Well most of us are used to having crackers with chili and soup, but on the low-carb plan it's tough to find something to replace those with. I simply cut up low-carb tortillas, salted them, and baked them in the oven at 350 until crisp, about 10 minutes. (I used a pizza stone, but a baking sheet would work fine too.) They reminded me a lot of crackers and were a nice accompaniment to the chili.

Quick Chili
Pg. 81 in Carb Wars

1 pound ground beef
1 cup water or broth
1 (15 oz) can enchilada sauce
1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes with juice
Salt, pepper and chili powder to taste
1 cup Mexican-style hominy* or 1 cup of cooked tepary beans (optional)

Brown ground beef and drain off the fat. Put meat, water or broth, enchilada sauce, and tomatoes in a large saucepan. Simmer for 30 minutes. Add optional beans or hominy; cook for five minutes more. Correct seasoning with salt and pepper and chili powder to taste. Serve with shredded Cheddar cheese, chopped green onions or chives, and sour cream.

Serves 6
Per serving: Total Carb: 6.8g Fiber: 0.6g Net Carbs: 6.2 g
*Judy recommends Juanitas Mexican-Style Hominy. It's what I used and it was really good!

This is just a sample of the yummy stuff you'll find in Carb Wars. So be sure you have your entry in by Jan. 24th so you have a chance at winning a free copy of this fantastic cookbook for yourself!